The Portland Trail Blazers continue to have shooting woes, ranking near the bottom in three-point efficiency throughout their entire rebuilding process. However, they do have a 3-and-D gem in Toumani Camara, who is helping maintain their defensive identity while simultaneously keeping their offense afloat.
This season, Portland's wing is averaging 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals on 44/37/71 shooting splits. He's now hovered around 37 percent from beyond the arc in two consecutive seasons, proving that his improved shot since coming out of college is here to stay.
Better yet, he's maintained that efficiency while increasing his volume from 4.6 attempts per game last season to 7.2 this season. For context, that's tied with Knicks star Jalen Brunson for the 16th most three-point attempts per game in the association.
Toumani Camara's high-volume shooting gives Portland a coveted 3-and-D building block
That's a huge development for Portland's roster, especially given the front office's long-term investment in Camara with a four-year, $82 million extension before the season. Camara may not be progressing as a playmaker or shot creator as much as the Blazers might have hoped. But that's okay, as they don't need him to be that.
The 3-and-D wing is one of the most coveted player archetypes in the entire NBA. With the league transitioning to jumbo guards taking advantage of mismatches, having that versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions goes a long way. On the offensive end, the analytics show the importance of the three-point shot in the modern NBA. Having his elite defense and reliable floor spacing is already incredibly valuable in itself, as few players around the league can replicate Camara's impact in both areas.
It's also why he's the ideal building block for this young core. The Blazers aren't in the final iteration of their roster as they look to take that next step, moving from stockpiling assets to figuring out how all those pieces fit together best. Regardless of who gets brought in, Camara will always be a seamless fit. That valuable 3-and-D piece is scalable across any roster or system, making him an elite complementary weapon for the Blazers' rebuild.
Camara is the exact type of player that championship rosters have as a fourth- or fifth-option. The Blazers will have to continue upgrading their starting lineup to move Camara down the offensive hierarchy. But that's only going to play more to his strengths, as he'll no longer have to step outside his comfort zone in an increased offensive role.
Trading for Camara changed the entire trajectory of this rebuild for Portland. Once an afterthought in the Damian Lillard deal as a second-round pick, Camara has quickly ascended to become one of the most important pieces on this entire roster. He has a case to be considered the second-most important player behind Deni Avdija, thanks to his elite defense, a scalable role, and now high-volume shooting.